System and method for identifying a receiving aircraft during airborne fueling

Abstract

A system for effecting automatic identifying of a receiving aircraft receiving fuel from a fuel delivery apparatus in a delivering aircraft during an airborne fueling operation includes: (a) a first unit coupled with the receiving aircraft; (b) a second unit coupled with the delivering aircraft; and (c) a processing unit coupled with at least one of the first unit and the second unit. The first and second units cooperate to effect communicative coupling for conveying identifying information between the receiving aircraft and the delivering aircraft. The processing unit cooperates with at least one of the first unit and the second unit for employing the identifying information to effect the identifying.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system for identifying a receiving aircraft receiving fuel from a fuel delivery apparatus of a delivering aircraft during an airborne fueling operation; the system comprising:
 a fuel receiving structure provided on said receiving aircraft and configured to couple with said duel delivery apparatus, said fuel receiving structure positionable between an open position during the airborne fueling operation and a closed position when not engaged in the airborne fueling operation; 
 at least one identifying indicia disposed on said receiving aircraft proximate to said fuel receiving structure so as to be exposed when said fuel receiving structure is in said open position and to be disposed in a protected environment when said fuel receiving structure is in said closed position, said at least one identifying indicia uniquely indicating individual identity of said receiving aircraft; 
 at least one identity recognizing unit coupled to said delivering aircraft, said at least one identity recognizing unit automatically recognizing data provided by said at least one identifying indicia within a predetermined distance; 
 a processing unit coupled with at least one of said delivering aircraft and said receiving aircraft, said processing unit cooperating with said at least one identity recognizing unit to ascertain said individual identity during said airborne fueling, wherein said identifying indicia is exposed for interrogation by said identity recognizing unit when the fuel receiving structure is in the open position. 
 
     
     
       2. A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said fuel receiving structure is in the closed position when said receiving aircraft is not engaged in a fueling operation, said identifying indicia being affixed inside said fuel receiving structure when said fuel receiving structure is in the closed position. 
     
     
       3. A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said fuel delivery apparatus is coupled with said processing unit; said fuel delivery apparatus providing information to said processing unit indicating an amount of fuel provided to said receiving aircraft during said airborne fueling operation; said fuel delivery apparatus and said processing unit cooperating to accumulate information in a predetermined form to automatically record said amount of fuel in association with said individual identity. 
     
     
       4. A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processing unit includes a data port configured for downloading information related to said fueling. 
     
     
       5. A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one identity recognizing unit includes at least one of a radio frequency identification unit, a thermal identification unit, an optical identification unit, a magnetic identification unit, a capacitive identification unit or an inductive identification unit. 
     
     
       6. A system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said processing unit is disposed in said delivery aircraft. 
     
     
       7. A system as recited in  claim 3  wherein said processing unit is disposed in said receiving aircraft and is coupled with said at least one recognizing unit and with said fueling apparatus during said airborne fueling operation. 
     
     
       8. A method for identifying a receiving aircraft receiving fuel from a fuel delivery apparatus in a delivering aircraft during an airborne fueling operation; the method comprising:
 actuating a fuel receiving structure on the receiving aircraft from a closed position, in which the fuel receiving structure has a more aerodynamic profile, to an open position, in which the fuel receiving structure receives the fuel delivery apparatus; 
 locating at least one identifying indicia proximate the fuel receiving structure so as to be exposed when said fuel receiving structure is in said open position and to be disposed in a protected environment when said fuel receiving structure is in said closed position, said at least one identifying indicia uniquely indicating individual identity of said receiving aircraft; and 
 when the fuel receiving structure is in the open position, using a processing unit to automatically recognize data provided by said at least one identifying indicia when at least one identity recognizing unit on said delivering aircraft is within a predetermined distance of said at least one identifying indicia. 
 
     
     
       9. A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein said processing unit provides at least one indicator of identity of said receiving aircraft for use in further processing. 
     
     
       10. A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein said fuel delivery apparatus is coupled with said processing unit; said fuel delivery apparatus providing information to said processing unit indicating an amount of fuel provided to said receiving aircraft during said airborne fueling operation; said fuel delivery apparatus and said processing unit cooperating to accumulate information in a predetermined form to automatically record said amount of fuel in association with said individual identity. 
     
     
       11. A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein said at least one identity recognizing unit includes at least one of a radio frequency identification unit, a thermal identification unit, an optical identification unit, a magnetic identification unit, a capacitive identification unit and an inductive identification unit. 
     
     
       12. A method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising placing the fuel receiving structure in the closed position when said receiving aircraft is not engaged in the airborne fueling operation, said identifying indicia being affixed inside said fuel receiving structure when said fuel receiving structure is in the closed position. 
     
     
       13. A method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising downloading information related to said fueling from said processing unit. 
     
     
       14. A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said processing unit is disposed in said delivery aircraft. 
     
     
       15. A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said processing unit is disposed in said receiving aircraft and is coupled with said at least one recognizing unit and with said fueling apparatus during said airborne fueling operation.